Clinical Research Directory

Feasibility of Virtual Reality-assisted Ergometer Cycling in Addition to Regular Rehabilitation During Municipality-based Inpatient Rehabilitation Care

VR-C-REHAB is a single-group pilot and feasibility study examining the practicality of implementing virtual-reality-assisted ergometer cycling as an adjunct to usual municipal inpatient rehabilitation for older adults (≥65 years). Many individuals admitted to temporary inpatient care present with low physical activity levels and fluctuating motivation, reducing the achievable exercise dose. Virtual reality may enhance engagement, enjoyment, and adherence, but its feasibility in this setting must be evaluated before conducting a future effect trial. The primary objective is to determine whether participants can achieve an adequate exercise dose, defined as the proportion of completed VR-cycling sessions out of those offered (target: ≥75%). Secondary feasibility outcomes include recruitment rate, safety and acceptability, and total cycling time. Exploratory outcomes include change in the 10-Meter Walk Test and session-level motivation (0-10). The intervention consists of 20 minutes of VR-assisted cycling, three times weekly for up to four weeks, delivered alongside standard rehabilitation. Data are collected at baseline, during each session, and at completion. Analyses are descriptive, focusing on the precision of feasibility estimates. Progression criteria (Go/Amend/Stop) are based on adherence, recruitment, and safety. The results will inform the design and implementation of a subsequent controlled study.

Communication for Early Mobilisation of People Living With Dementia Following Surgery for Hip Fracture

This goal of this study is to identify ways that healthcare professionals communicate that are effective in helping a person living with dementia to stand or walk after surgery for a broken hip (hip fracture). We aim to identify 'what works' in successfully helping people with dementia to mobilise early, and share this in practice. The main question the research aims to answer is: What healthcare professional communication practices are effective in achieving early and continued mobilisation among people living with dementia following hip fracture surgery? We will use a research method called 'Conversation Analysis', to look at the fine detail of the language healthcare professionals use and responses to it. We will make video recordings of real-life ward care, when healthcare staff are trying to help a person with dementia get up early after hip fracture surgery. We will involve people with dementia in decisions to take part and get agreement from their families before we record anything. We have done this successfully in two previous studies. We will record up to 50 episodes of care on three trauma orthopaedic wards. We will identify specific, practical recommendations and 'teachable' approaches: ways of speaking, or sequences of requests or instructions. We will work with people with dementia, family carers, educators and clinicians to do this. We will use clips of videos in future communication training.